IT’S A LATE SUB PUTS
SUB Elliott Hughes was the toast of Bootle as his late injury-time leveller against FC United of Manchester earned the Bucks a replay.
The Rebels had taken a two-goal lead into the break thanks to a double from striker Cedric Main.
Bucks caretaker-manager Richie Boswarva was happy with his team’s performance but slightly disappointed with the result.
He said: “Even at half-time we never thought we were out of it. We pressed more in the second half and deserved to get the goals our play merited. To come off the pitch disappointed with a draw against FC United in the FA Cup shows how well we played.”
The visitors had looked the livelier in the opening exchanges with Regan Linney and Main both firing efforts wide before Main raced onto a long ball over the top and, with the home defence waiting for the whistle, he beat keeper Ryan Jones to the ball to head into the open goal.
The Red Rebels striker doubled his and his team’s tally with a smart finish midway through the half. Taking a cross from Matthew Rain in his stride, Main took a touch before smashing the ball home.
The home side changed shape after the break with winger Ben Hodkinson pushing up to support lone striker Tom Peterson and, roared on by a decent-sized home support behind the goal they were attacking, the Bucks earned their reward with a superb second half showing.
Hodkinson showed his worth, creating chances while coming close himself on a couple of occasions and with the home side on top Carl Peers saw an effort from the edge of the box come back off the bar with keeper Dan Lavercombe well beaten.
Shortly afterwards, Hodkinson was brought down in the box by Finley Sinclair-Smith, the winger stepping up to fire the resulting spot-kick home.
With the seconds ticking away Hodkinson played his part in his side’s dramatic leveller, picking up the ball on the edge of the box before laying it into the path of Hughes who fired home to set up a deserved replay.
FC United assistant manager Brian Richardson said: “Having put ourselves in a strong position, we threw the game away with a poor second half performance.
“The most disappointing aspect is that we spoke about how they would come out in the second half, and we just didn’t cope with them.”
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